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Please Help- Emergency!

H

Hillarious

New member
Hi sorry to barge in here. I know this is a cornsnake forum, but I need some help ASAP.

I recently got another snake, a Mexican Black Kingsnake. He is young so very small. I just got home to find him escaped, and I don't know how :S

Anyway here are my major issues making this an emergency!

1. I have birds, and while he is much to small to comsume any of them he could easily attack and kill them, or injure them at the very least.

2. I have a cat, who could easily kill him if he wanted to. The snake could also harm my cat.

3. He is small (just barely 8 inches, very thin still), solid black, and I have no flashlight in the house.

4. He could be ANYWHERE in the place (i bedroom apartment) since it's been about 5 hours I was gone.

5. He ate the day before yesterday, so hes probablly not hungry and I need to find him tonight!

PLEASE if you know any good methods of catching a tiny little snake fast let me know. I'm really nervous to go to sleep least he encounters any of the birds or the cat. Plus I will be in class most of the day tomorrow :S

please please give my aaaany advice you can think of!!!
 
put a towel tightly underneath the door so he cant escape the room, and he might show up under it in the morning. this has worked for me in the past a couple times.
 
Okay thanks...

I'm so worried right now. I just moved about 8 boxes into my bedroom and unpacked half of the stuff onto the floor.

Man I am worried ****less right now. Worried I will never find him and mostly worried for the safety of my other pets. =S
 
An 8 inch snake is not going to harm your birds or you cats. Birds and Cats are both predators of snakes. You need not worry about them, worry more about the snake. He is the vulnerable one. Good luck with finding him.
 
If you search "escape" you should find a bunch of info on setting traps using a 2 liter bottle, and on putting flour on the floor to track him, etc.

Can you put the birds up high somewhere, like the top of the refrigerator, and contain the cat to a place you're sure the snake isn't, or send it to stay with a friend till you locate the snake?

Good luck.

Nanci
 
Watch the cat. I've read many stories on here of people finding lost snakes because their cat was acting different or concentrating on one spot. Just because you just fed him doesn't mean he wouldn't take another meal either. Also you can try bottle traps and other tricks like Nanci said. Good luck!

~Katie
 
Well actually my birds are vunerable, they are parrots and they are a prey species, not a predator like the snake. My senegal in particular is terrified of electric cords, thick rope, and, of course, snakes.

Do you think the traps will work? I'm wondering, since the pinkie will get cold really fast....would he still be interested? Also, if I brain the pinkie do you think he will smell it better?

Arrrgh I am so worried. The main problem is that he is small enough to fit under any doorway I have, except the outside door. I also have baseboard heating so there is no way I can find him I don't think. *Sigh* I guess I will have to rely on the traps.

I lost my corn last year and I didn't even wanna sleep I was so worried about him. I already miss my king, and hes's been missing only a day. I'm worried because I hear these horrid stories about snakes that go missing for months...I don't wanna miss him that long =(

I read up on baiting him, but any additional help you can give me would be appreciated!!
 
OK, calm down. A snake that size is a danger to none of your pets. I raised birds for many years. Your parrots are much more of a danger to an 8 inch snake than the snake is to them. The worst bite I've received from any of my variety of animals was from my Senegal. The real danger is your cat. If you have a cat carrier, lock the cat up. I assure you, the cat is much more likely to find the snake before you do. Check around the baseboards for the snake. The snake is gonna seek a dark tight spot to hide.

You might take some of the substrate from the snake's tank, and put it into a empty shallow box, laid on its side, such as a cereal box. An escaped snake will seek water , so a shallow dish of water like a jar lid in the box May help may help. Place a box up against the baseboard in a dark spot under the table, or the bed.. Baiting the box with a pinky won't hurt. Good luck
 
Look under warm, dry places. I've heard that they love going under the fridge. Don't worry about your other pets, an 8 inch snake is not even going to draw blood. At least, an 8 inch corn definitely wouldn't.
 
Thanks guys. I still can't find him...i've been looking for hours. It sucks cause I just moved a bunch of crap into my bedroom so if he got in there...ain't no way I'm gonna find him. There are so many small places he could fit into that I jsut can't shine a light into. =S

I have to disagree about the birds. There is no way in hell they are a danger to him, unless they panic and *accidentally* hurt him. I've had parrots for years and I have a parrot behavioral consulting business. I study in parrot flock dynamics and behavior. I'm mostly worried about them becoming panicked and thrashing around the cage, as I have seen them do. I am worried for the snake and the birds. I can't keep my cat locked up for too long, it's really unfair...a couple of hours is all I'll tolerae. He needs to eat and go to the bathroom soon anyway.

What do you think my chances are of finding him??? Will he still go for a cold pinkie? Should I try to bait him with a live one?

I really appreciate the help, by the way.
 
I was in your shoes 2 weeks ago! I totally understand the feeling... My way is not the best way.. but it worked for me! I caught my snake in only 2 days! I searched my whole room and taped up everything after I finish searching... Then I laid traps... Go to the dark and warm places and laid double side tape traps... The bad part is that you might damage some of the snakes scales when peeling him back off! But for a baby he should be fine after a couple of sheds... Hey a found snake thats a bit hurt is better then a dead one... The choice is your... Hope this helps.
 
Well, for that matter, when you're peeling him off the tape, use some vegetable oil or something. It will probably help get him off with less damage and hurt for the snake.
 
Okay I resign from searching. It's been hours and still no Anubis. Arrgh poor guy. Cross your fingers for me I'll be sick if I can't find him. I guess I get a little too attached to my pets...event the slithery ones.
 
You're not too attached. The more you're attached, the better it is to your pets, I think.

My snake was lost in the house with two cats for like 3 days with no people in the house (We were all away for a few days) and then, my dad came home, and then she was still lost for about another 2 weeks. Don't give up yet!

I've also heard stories about how snakes survive. I read a story about a guy who lost his corn in his grandma's house. And his grandma has like 6 cats or something. And then, like 6 months later, the corn turns up in a bag of potato chips.
 
I think I heard that story too...read it somewhere. I don't wanna loose him for 6 months though =( I won't be here in 6 months. My lease is up on December 1st
 
Oh one more question (I cant figure out how to edit last post) how long can leave a pinkie out and refreeze it before it gets rotten? I leave a trap out each night...can I resue the pinkie?
 
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